Via Satellite archive photo

Five organizations joined the standards group working to promote interoperability between ground communications in the satellite industry. The Digital IF Interoperability Consortium (DIFI) announced Monday that ViaLite Communications, Swedish Microwave AB, Cobham Satcom, Science Applications International Corporation, and Taiwan’s National Space Organization have joined the group. 

DIFI, formed  is bringing together companies from across the satellite industry to push for interoperability in satellite and ground system networks. In August, DIFI introduced version 1.0 of its interoperability standard based upon VITA 49, called the IEEE-ISTO Std 4900-2021: Digital IF Interoperability Standard. The organization recently consolidated two separate standards groups into one group to extend, adapt, improve, and certify the current standard. 

These companies join other DIFI members including Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Kymeta, Intelsat, Gilat Satellite Networks, SES, and ST Engineering iDirect. 

“It is a testament to the importance that the industry places on the need for digital transformation. As members of DIFI working groups advance the scope, use, testing and certification of the standard, we continue to get closer to the goal of interoperability across space networks,” commented Stuart Daughtridge, chairman of DIFI and senior vice president for Advanced Technologies at Kratos. 

Daughtridge told Via Satellite in a previous interview that standards are the first step to grow the satellite industry’s share in the global telecommunications ecosystem. DIFI’s mission is to focus on the larger issue of the digital transformation of space, satellite, and related industries. 

“Standards are just a tool to achieve that, and it’s why our members come from across all aspects and sectors of the space industry,” Daughtridge said. “We are working to build common standards that address universal needs — including the requirements of the networks we connect into.”